stationery

Everyday

1. Things used for writing and office work, such as paper, envelopes, pens, pencils, rulers and rubbers. tree →
2. Writing paper and matching envelopes. tree →

In the lessons

At school, pupils need stationery: pens, pencils, rubbers (erasers), rulers, glue and exercise books. Shops sell it in the «stationery aisle». In maths, stationery appears in shopping problems: pens cost 50p each, find the total. Phrases: «school stationery», «stationery shop», «stationery cupboard».

Examples

• I bought new stationery for the start of term. tree →
• The stationery cupboard is full of paper and glue. tree →
• Pencils, rulers and rubbers are all stationery. tree →
• She loves cute stationery with animals on it. tree →
• A pen costs £1 and a ruler 80p, so the stationery costs £1.80. tree →
• The hotel room had stationery with its name printed on top. tree →
• Our school gives every pupil a stationery pack. tree →

Note

Big trap: «stationery» with «-ery» means writing things (remember: e for envelopes); «stationary» with «-ary» means not moving (a stationary car). They sound the same. «Stationery» is uncountable: «some stationery», not «a stationery» or «stationeries».